LA Clippers center Yanic Konan Niederhäuser finished in double figures for the first time on Tuesday, and the rookie earned some praise from coach Tyronn Lue for the performance.
Niederhäuser produced 16 points, six rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot in a 131-90 victory over the Sacramento Kings at the Intuit Dome. He shot 6-of-8 from the field and was a plus-16 in 25 minutes of work off the bench.
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The 30th pick tallied 11 points in the second half alone as the Clippers built a 43-point lead for their season-high fifth straight win. He showcased his overall ability in the contest, from his high-flying dunks to his ability to crash the glass and protect the paint.
«I thought his energy, just being able to sprint the pick and rolls and get out of the rolls fast enough to get behind the defense, was good,» Lue said. «I thought he was really good defensively at the rim, either blocking shots or altering shots. His energy: Running the floor, pick and rolls, getting off of it. He has done a really good job, and he is only going to get better.»
Niederhäuser has played sparingly with the Clippers to start the season, averaging 3.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 7.9 minutes across 16 appearances. He has logged at least 10 minutes in four straight games for the first time this season.
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The 22-year-old has played eight games in the G League with San Diego, posting 14.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.6 assists on 55.6% shooting from the field. He has registered three double-doubles, including an 18-point, 16-rebound effort on Dec. 8.
Niederhäuser will likely continue to see sporadic playing time, with established players ahead of him in the rotation. However, he showed on Tuesday that he can step in and provide solid production in spot situations as needed from the team.
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Clippers news: Tyronn Lue commends Niederhäuser after career game
